Beamforming system and method for modular phased antenna array

Abstract

Generally, this disclosure provides systems and methods for modular antenna array beamforming with controllable antenna module delay for improved beam steering accuracy. A system may include a plurality of antenna modules, each of the antenna modules comprising an array of antenna elements coupled to an RF beamforming circuit, the RF beamforming circuit to adjust phase shifts associated with the antenna elements to generate an antenna beam associated with the antenna module; a delay circuit coupled to each of the antenna modules; and a central beamforming module coupled to each of the delay circuits, the central beamforming module to control the antenna beam associated with each of the antenna modules and further to adjust signal delays associated with the delay circuits, wherein the arrays of antenna elements of the antenna modules combine to operate as a composite antenna beamforming array.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A system for antenna beamforming, said system comprising:
 a plurality of antenna modules, each of said antenna modules comprising an array of antenna elements coupled to a radio frequency (RF) beamforming circuit, said RF beamforming circuit to adjust phase shifts associated with said antenna elements to generate an antenna beam associated with said antenna module;   a delay circuit coupled to each of said antenna modules; and   a central beamforming module coupled to each of said delay circuits, said central beamforming module to control said antenna beam associated with each of said antenna modules and further to adjust signal delays associated with said delay circuits, wherein said arrays of antenna elements of said antenna modules combine to operate as a composite antenna beamforming array.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said central beamforming module is further to control said composite antenna beamforming array to generate a composite antenna beam, said composite antenna beam having a higher gain and narrower beamwidth than said antenna beams associated with said antenna modules. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said central beamforming module is further to control said composite antenna beamforming array to generate a composite antenna beam, said composite antenna beam having a wider beamwidth than said antenna beams associated with said antenna modules. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said central beamforming module is further to control said composite antenna beamforming array to generate a composite antenna beam and to steer said composite antenna beam from a first direction to a second direction. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein said signal delay adjustments are based on a beam steering direction of said composite antenna beam. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said central beamforming module is included in a processor selected from the group consisting of a baseband processor, an intermediate frequency processor and an RF processor. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said RF beamforming circuits are RF integrated circuits (RFICs) and said antenna modules are to operate in a millimeter wave frequency range. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein said antenna elements are coupled to said RF beamforming circuit by micro-strip feeding lines. 
     
     
         38 . A method for antenna beamforming, said method comprising:
 adjusting phase shifts associated with antenna elements, said antenna elements included in an array of antenna elements coupled to an RF beamforming circuit, said adjusting performed by said RF beamforming circuit to generate an antenna beam, said antenna beam associated with an antenna module, said antenna module comprising said array of antenna elements and said RF beamforming circuit; and   adjusting signal delays associated with a plurality of delay circuits, said delay circuits coupled to each of a plurality of said antenna modules, said adjusting performed by a central beamforming module coupled to said delay circuits, wherein said arrays of antenna elements of said antenna modules combine to operate as a composite antenna beamforming array.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising controlling said composite antenna beamforming array to generate a composite antenna beam, said composite antenna beam having a higher gain and narrower beamwidth than said antenna beams associated with said antenna modules. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising controlling said composite antenna beamforming array to generate a composite antenna beam, said composite antenna beam having a wider beamwidth than said antenna beams associated with said antenna modules. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising controlling said composite antenna beamforming array to generate a composite antenna beam and to steer said composite antenna beam from a first direction to a second direction. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said signal delay adjusting is based on a beam steering direction of said composite antenna beam. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said central beamforming module is included in a processor selected from the group consisting of a baseband processor, an intermediate frequency processor and an RF processor. 
     
     
         44 . A platform comprising:
 a processor;   an input/output module coupled to said processor;   a memory coupled to said processor; and   a wireless communication interface coupled to said processor, said interface comprising:   a plurality of antenna modules, each of said antenna modules comprising an array of antenna elements coupled to a radio frequency (RF) beamforming circuit, said RF beamforming circuit to adjust phase shifts associated with said antenna elements to generate an antenna beam associated with said antenna module;   a delay circuit coupled to each of said antenna modules; and   a central beamforming module coupled to each of said delay circuits, said central beamforming module to control said antenna beam associated with each of said antenna modules and further to adjust signal delays associated with said delay circuits, wherein said arrays of antenna elements of said antenna modules combine to operate as a composite antenna beamforming array.   
     
     
         45 . The platform of  claim 44 , wherein said central beamforming module is further to control said composite antenna beamforming array to generate a composite antenna beam, said composite antenna beam having a higher gain and narrower beamwidth than said antenna beams associated with said antenna modules. 
     
     
         46 . The platform of  claim 44 , wherein said central beamforming module is further to control said composite antenna beamforming array to generate a composite antenna beam, said composite antenna beam having a wider beamwidth than said antenna beams associated with said antenna modules. 
     
     
         47 . The platform of  claim 44 , wherein said central beamforming module is further to control said composite antenna beamforming array to generate a composite antenna beam and to steer said composite antenna beam from a first direction to a second direction. 
     
     
         48 . The platform of  claim 47 , wherein said signal delay adjustments are based on a beam steering direction of said composite antenna beam. 
     
     
         49 . The platform of  claim 44 , wherein said central beamforming module is included in a processor selected from the group consisting of a baseband processor, an intermediate frequency processor and an RF processor. 
     
     
         50 . The platform of  claim 44 , wherein said RF beamforming circuits are included in one or more RF integrated circuits (RFICs) and said antenna modules are to operate in a millimeter wave frequency range. 
     
     
         51 . The platform of  claim 44 , wherein said antenna elements are coupled to said RF beamforming circuit by micro-strip feeding lines. 
     
     
         52 . The platform of  claim 44 , wherein said platform is selected from the group consisting of a smartphone, a laptop computing device and a tablet. 
     
     
         53 . The platform of  claim 44 , wherein said platform is a wireless base station. 
     
     
         54 . A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a processor result in the following operations for antenna beamforming, said operations comprising:
 adjusting phase shifts associated with antenna elements, said antenna elements included in an array of antenna elements coupled to an RF beamforming circuit, said adjusting performed by said RF beamforming circuit to generate an antenna beam, said antenna beam associated with an antenna module, said antenna module comprising said array of antenna elements and said RF beamforming circuit; and   adjusting signal delays associated with a plurality of delay circuits, said delay circuits coupled to each of a plurality of said antenna modules, said adjusting performed by a central beamforming module coupled to said delay circuits, wherein said arrays of antenna elements of said antenna modules combine to operate as a composite antenna beamforming array.   
     
     
         55 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 54 , further comprising the operations of controlling said composite antenna beamforming array to generate a composite antenna beam, said composite antenna beam having a higher gain and narrower beamwidth than said antenna beams associated with said antenna modules. 
     
     
         56 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 54 , further comprising the operations of controlling said composite antenna beamforming array to generate a composite antenna beam, said composite antenna beam having a wider beamwidth than said antenna beams associated with said antenna modules. 
     
     
         57 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 54 , further comprising the operations of controlling said composite antenna beamforming array to generate a composite antenna beam and to steer said composite antenna beam from a first direction to a second direction. 
     
     
         58 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 57 , wherein said signal delay adjusting is based on a beam steering direction of said composite antenna beam.